**KUFFOUR** His administrations domestic policy in the first term was marked by fiscal and monetary stringency on the economic front, aimed at stabilizing a national economy that had stagnated and was in decline. His social vision was focused on unleashing the entrepreneurial, creative and innovative potential of Ghanaians as a means of creating wealth and hence dealing with the social challenges facing them. This socio-economic vision was encapsulated in the Five Priority Areas Programme, viz., the pursuit of good governance, modernization of agriculture for rural development, private sector participation, enhanced social services and vigorous infrastructure development. His administration is said to have received the most financial assistance of any in the history of Ghana, due essentially to donors distrust for the military governments before it, as well as those with some military connections. Kufuors foreign policy was underpinned by what he termed economic diplomacy. It is within this context that in Africa in general and in West Africa in particular, a good neighbor policy has been pursued, which saw Ghana under Kufuor brokering peace in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Cote dlvoire and Guinea-Bissau, among other African states. On the global stage, Kufuor actively sought the establishment of a just and equitable international social and economic order, while promoting and safeguarding the interests of Ghana through bilateral and multilateral agreements. His stature as statesman, democrat and credible spokesman for Africa found expression in his invitation to major international meetings and conferences including the founding summit of the AU, G8 Summits in Sea Island, Georgia and Glenneagles, Scotland, and the World Economic Forum. He served as Chairman of the regional grouping ECOWAS for two consecutive terms – 2003 and 2004. In 2007, due to the policy successes his administration chalked up, Kufuor had his mandate renewed in 2004 and was sworn into office on 7 January 2005. Policy direction in Kufuors second presidential term built on the foundations laid in the first four years. The administration pursued Ghanas socio-economic transformation in the second term, using the three-pronged approach of private-sector development, human resource development and good governance. At the international level, Kufuor consolidated Ghanas position as the voice of Africa, credible peace broker, beacon of democracy (Ghana was the first country to undergo Peer Review under NEPADs Africa Peer Review Mechanism) and responsible member of the comity of nations. On 29 January 2007, Kufuor was elected as Chairperson of the African Union for the 2007–08 AU session. He was succeeded by Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania on 31 January 2008.[2] Kufuor was involved in a car accident during his presidency on 14 November 2007, in which another car collided with his, causing it to roll over several times. Kufuor was reported to be uninjured.[3] Health He started the National Health Insurance Scheme to replace the existent cash-and-carry system;[4] 11 million Ghanaians were registered under this scheme. He set up the National Ambulance Service and built more than 205 hospitals and clinics.[5] He also built a state-of-the-art emergency centre at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital.[6] Kufuor also introduced free maternal health care in public hospitals for all expectant mothers. Education Kufuor institutionalized the capitation grant for school children at the basic level, whereby each student was entitled to $2 for cultural sports and development. He also started the national school feeding programme. He changed the Senior Secondary School curriculum from three years to four years and renamed it Senior High School. He started the model school senior high school concept in which some deprived schools were upgraded to the level of some first-class senior high schools.[7] Access to finance Kufuor launched the Microfinance and small loans program (MASLOC #some 2 paragraphs missing cus of the length #may God be praised always
Posted on: Mon, 08 Dec 2014 08:26:18 +0000
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